Cosmetic applicator with interchangeable product tips

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a cosmetic applicator system having interchangeable cosmetic products. A handle is provided with flexible prongs having mating portions for selectively engaging and disengaging one of a plurality of cosmetic products having a complementary mating portion. A base is provided for holding a plurality of the interchangeable cosmetics products in an arrangement that facilitates engagement and disengagement to allow the user to switch from one cosmetic product to another. The system is suitable for many cosmetics, particularly, eye shadow, lip balm, lipstick, cheek colorant, baked, hot poured, and dipped products.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/974,404, filed Apr. 2, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

Disclosed herein are applicator devices and product tips. Some embodiments disclose a system including a handle adapted to connect to any of a plurality of product-containing tips, and a product palette.

SUMMARY

Some embodiments provide a cosmetic application system including a palette comprising a base defining a plurality of recesses; a plurality of product assemblies, wherein each assembly further comprises a retainer element having two sides, wherein one of the two sides is substantially permanently affixed to a cosmetic product, and the other of the two sides is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism; and a handle comprising at one end, at least two prongs, wherein each prong is resiliently flexible and outwardly biased with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and wherein each prong is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism which is mated to the half of the mated coupling mechanism present on each of the plurality of product assemblies.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a system as described herein, having the handle engaged on one of the product assemblies, while still in the palette, and then depicts the same system, with the handle and couple product assembly removed from the palette.

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section showing a tongue and groove coupling mechanism as well as a platform based retainer element to which the product is adhered.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 depicts several views of a system 100 and some of its component parts as described in more detail below. A cosmetics palette 200 is depicted, in this case presenting nine shades of a cosmetic product, such as, but not limited to, eye shadow. Each shade occupies a recess 210 in the palette configured to accept a product assembly 300. Each product assembly 300 includes a cosmetic product 320, again such as, but not limited to, eye shadow, and a retaining element 310. The retaining element 310 is designed and configured to be coupled permanently on one side to the product 320 and selectively and interchangeably coupled to the handle 400. Although this description will focus on the system, it should be understood that each of the elements can stand alone or in any combination.

FIG. 2 depicts a perspective cross-sectional view of a handle 400 in accordance with some embodiments. One end of the handle 400 is provided with at least two resilient prongs 410, which are biased towards an outward position. That is, through the application of moderate force from the hand of the user, the prongs 410 can be flexed towards one another, and return to their original position once the force is removed. Each resilient prong 410 defines a first half of a mated pair of a coupling mechanism 450. In some instances this may be a tongue and groove, flange, rib, a barb, a recess, etc. The first half of the coupling mechanism 450 is designed and configured to mate with a second half of the coupling mechanism 350, which is present on the retaining element 310, which is used to connect the product assembly 300 to the handle 400.

The product assembly 300 includes product 320 affixed to a retaining element 310. Depending on the type of product (for example, eye shadow, lip balm, lip stick, cheek colorant, etc.) different methods of affixing the product to the retaining element may be used. Among these are any suitable for the type of product and method of manufacturing. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that the product may be baked, hot poured, dipped, or other. Each of these types of product are amenable to various methods of affixing to the retaining element. For example, product 320 may be glued to a platform 312 that makes up part of the retaining element 310. Alternatively, or additionally, the retaining element 310 may be provided with one or more projection, rib, barb, flange, platform, etc. or combination thereof, which will be useful in holding product that is dip formed, baked, hot poured around the projection. Those of skill in the art will readily appreciate the myriad possibilities for securing product to the retaining element with or without a platform.

The retaining element 310 is designed and configured such that product 320 is substantially permanently affixed to one side while the retaining element 310 provides the second half of the coupling mechanism 350 for coupling to the handle 400. Any type of coupling mechanism can be used, so long as the product assembly 300 and the handle 400 employ mated parts of the same coupling mechanism 350, 450. In the system described herein, a plurality of product assemblies 300 will be present in a single system 100. Each of the plurality of product assemblies 300 will include a coupling mechanism 350 suitable for use with the same handle 400. In such a manner, one handle 400 may be used to selectively apply any or all of the range of products in the system.

As shown in FIG. 2, the coupling system 350, 450 is a plurality of mated tongue and groove portions, wherein each prong 410 of the handle 400 is provided with a tongue and groove portion 450 which is mated to a tongue and groove portion 350 on the retaining element 310. The resilient nature of the prongs 410 is sufficient to hold the product assembly 300 in place during application. Depending on desired effect, the resilient force may be sufficient to prevent undesired rotation of the product assembly 300 with respect to the handle 400, during application, or sufficient to permit such rotation. If rotation is undesirable, either or both of the handle or the product assembly can be provided with one or more stops to prevent such rotation.

FIG. 1 depicts a palette 200 for housing a plurality of product assemblies 300. As shown, a block of clear acrylic defines a plurality of recesses 210 corresponding to a desired number of product assemblies 300 in a particular palette 200, as shown there are nine product assemblies 300, each in a different shade or color. Each recess 210 is sized and shaped to match the size and shape of the product assembly 300, here, a domed-shaped product has an inverse dome-shaped recess 210 in the palette 200. Any material may be used for the palette 200 so long as it can adequately house the dimensions of the plurality of product assemblies 300. As shown, the clear acrylic palette 200 coupled with a clear or frosted plastic retaining element 310 gives the product an airy feel and plays up the colors in dramatic fashion.

As depicted, the handle 400 and each product assembly 300 have a circular cross-section. It should be appreciated that any shape or dimension can be accommodated, including square, rectangular, triangular, oval, etc., the circular cross-section is exemplary only. Thus, the retainer element 300 is shown as a ring-like structure having a circumferential tongue and groove for mating with the tongue and groove on the prongs 410 of the handle 400. In non-circular embodiments, the circumferential tongue and groove is located about the periphery.

Various plastics and polymer materials may be used for any or all of the various sports of the cosmetic application system described herein. Those of skill in the art will readily recognize that additional materials, sizes, shapes, configurations, etc. may be employed without altering the scope and spirit of this description. For example, any or all of the palette, handle, or retainer element may be made of metal. As another example, the palette could be made from cardboard, wood, wood products, metal, glass, ceramic or other suitable material.

In some embodiments, not shown, the handle may be coupled to the product assembly by other means. For example, rather than a handle having resilient prongs with mated sections for grasping the product assembly, the handle and product assembly could be coupled via magnets, friction fit arrangements, threaded arrangements, partial turn engagements, hook and loop fasteners or other coupling means suitable for selective coupling and decoupling of the product assembly from the handle. Other coupling arrangements could include mated pairs in a twist and lock arrangement, pin lock arrangement, ball-lock arrangement, etc. It should be appreciated that in each of these arrangements, one half of the mated pair is provided on the handle and the other on each of the plurality of product assemblies. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A cosmetic application system comprising: a palette comprising a base defining a plurality of recesses; a plurality of product assemblies, each removably placed in one of said plurality of recesses, wherein each assembly further comprises: a retainer element having two sides, wherein one of the two sides is substantially permanently affixed to a cosmetic product, and the other of the two sides is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism; and a handle comprising at one end, at least two prongs, wherein each prong is resiliently flexible and outwardly biased with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and wherein each prong is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism which is mated to the half of the mated coupling mechanism present on each of the plurality of product assemblies.
 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetic product is selected from eye shadow, lip balm, lipstick, and cheek colorant.
 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the cosmetic product is selected from baked, hot poured, and dipped products.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the retaining element is provided with one or more projection, rib, barb, or flange configured to hold the cosmetic product.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the mated coupling mechanism is selected from tongue and groove, mated flanges, ribs, barbs, and recesses, or combinations thereof adapted to selectively couple and decouple the retaining element to the handle.
 6. A handle for use with a cosmetic product retaining element, wherein the product retaining element is provided with one half of a mated coupling mechanism, the handle comprising: at one end, at least two prongs, wherein each prong is resiliently flexible and outwardly biased with respect to a longitudinal axis of the handle; and wherein each prong is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism which is mated to the half of the mated coupling mechanism present on each of the plurality of product assemblies.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the mated coupling mechanism is selected from tongue and groove, mated flanges, ribs, barbs, and recesses, or combinations thereof adapted to selectively couple and decouple the retaining element to the handle.
 8. A cosmetic product assembly for use with a handle, wherein the handle is provided with one half of a mated coupling mechanism, the cosmetic product assembly comprising: a retainer element having two sides, wherein one of the two sides is substantially permanently affixed to a cosmetic product, and the other of the two sides is provided with half of a mated coupling mechanism.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the mated coupling mechanism is selected from tongue and groove, mated flanges, ribs, barbs, and recesses, or combinations thereof adapted to selectively couple and decouple the retaining element to the handle. 